Brigid & Noah

The call came on a Tuesday.

Brigid, a special education teacher who’d taken in foster children, told SCO she was ready to adopt. After being a temporary mom, helping to strengthen and reunite families, she wanted to build a “forever family” of her own. And then, one day, her phone rang.

“They said, ‘We have a baby who is two months old, and he has nobody,’” she recalls. “And I thought, ‘I’ll be his somebody.’”

Three days later little Noah was in her arms. The first day was intense, but Brigid recalls, “I woke up the next day and looked at him in his crib and thought, ‘This is my kid, and this is meant to be.’”

The legal adoption process would take six years, and SCO was there every step of the way.

“SCO’s adoption unit was really on it, so organized,” Brigid recalls with gratitude. “They were able to explain everything going on in court. It took a long time, and they were like, ‘Let’s stick with it.’”

“Throughout the process SCO was really supportive of his birth mom too. They recognized that she really loved this baby, but that life circumstances meant he wouldn’t be safe there.” So SCO worked hard to support both Noah’s adoptive mother and his birth mother, and to sustain and nourish both relationships.

And then, the big day came. “His adoption court appearance took five minutes, but when they said he was legally my son, it took my breath away.”

Now seven, Noah’s doing great – playing chess, learning French and mastering soccer.

The Storeys’ Extended Family

Christina and Johnny Storey were already foster parents when they decided to become Family Care providers over 20 years ago. It seemed like the right fit for the Storey family, which included daughter Sichole, as well as Chris and his brother Lamont (ages 2 and 3 at the time), who had been welcomed into the family through foster care.

Chris was diagnosed with Intellectual Disability and Cerebral Palsy as a child, and was never expected to walk. But, inspired by his “never quit” attitude, the Storeys supported his drive to defy expectations, adapting their home to help him move around independently and staying by his side through numerous surgeries.

Chris, now 26, still lives with the Storeys and continues to dream big. He works as an assistant to the youth director at the church where Mr. Storey serves as Reverend.

Over the years, the Storey Family Care home continued to grow. Russell was already an adult when he came to the Storeys from a group home. The Storeys knew it was the “right fit” and welcomed Russell into their family. Today, Christina works with Russell, teaching him skills such as banking, food shopping and using transportation.

Frank, 26, arrived at the Storey Family Care home more than 10 years ago. Frank has autism and cannot speak, but is able to communicate nonverbally. Christina attended a basic American Sign Language course at Suffolk Community College to help Frank “fit right in.”

When Mathew’s Family Care provider passed away suddenly 8 years ago, the Storeys once again opened their hearts and home. Matthew, 46, has Down syndrome and is the “politician” of the family – mediating between everyone. Mathew has a “mental calendar” Christina says smiling, and “keeps track of all the family’s activities.

Sydney, 38, came to the Storeys for emergency respite. At first Sydney was confused and unsure about the arrangement, but with the love and support of the extended Storey family, he too thrived in this home.

“We do this for the love in our hearts for them. We’ve seen how much progress they’ve made with care and love,” says Christina. “This is family. A group that loves, cares for and protects one another.”

In addition to providing a therapeutic home environment for these individuals, Christina Storey also serves as President of the Family Care Providers Association for Long Island.

The Storeys are truly an extraordinary family. But so are countless other Family Care families who provide loving homes to people with developmental disabilities every day.

Program Spotlight

For over 50 years, SCO's Foster Care practice has been helping children and their families grow, heal and thrive. We find safe, temporary families for children and teens throughout New York City and Long Island.

Care Management

Health Home Care Management helps families keep their children and young adults healthier. An SCO Care Manager can help manage and coordinate health care, behavioral health and service needs for eligible participants from birth through 21 years of age. Think of a Care Manager as your point person for everyone involved in your child’s care.

What is a Health Home?

A Health Home is not a building or a place. It is a team of professionals who work together to make sure all of the child or young adult’s needs are being met. The team is led by an SCO Health Home Care Manager who becomes the family’s partner in care.

What does a Care Manager do?

The Health Home Care Manager is the point person for everyone involved in the child or young adult’s care. The Care Manager works with each family to develop a care plan that lists the needs, goals, and the providers and services needed to reach those goals. Care Managers can help make appointments. He or she can help with housing and educational needs. The Care Manager can even connect families to programs in their communities to help each family lead a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Why do I need a Health Home?

A child or young adult may see many health professionals from different agencies and at multiple locations. It can be very difficult to coordinate all of that care. With SCO Care Management, a Care Manager is there to help you. He or she will make sure everyone has a full picture of your child or young adult’s needs, goals, and progress. This will lead to better results, better care, and can help avoid trips to the emergency room.

Who is eligible?

Children and young adults (birth to 21 years of age) who are eligible for Medicaid and have certain medical or behavioral health conditions may qualify for a Health Home. This includes children and young adults in SCO’s foster care, preventive, mental health, educational, medical and residential programs. In certain situations, the caregiver of an eligible child may also be eligible to receive Health Home services.

There are no out of pocket costs to participate in a Health Home and receive Care Management services. It is covered under Medicaid.